Georgian Bay Islanders Programming Overview
We are thrilled to provide an overview of our hockey programming for the upcoming season. The following table breaks down the season dates, practice details, and game details for each age group and level, ensuring clear and accessible information for players and their families.
Key Features of our Programming:
High-Quality Coaching
- All teams are led by qualified, experienced coaches who prioritize player development and strive to bring out the best in each
- athlete. Our coaching staff is dedicated to providing a safe and positive environment for players to grow both on and off the ice.
- GBMHA has a Director of Coach Development who works closely with coaches to help them improve their skills, share techniques, strategies, drills, small area games, and other coaching ideologies. This collaborative approach ensures consistency and quality throughout our organization, helping to build great teams at every level.
Development Focus
- Our programs emphasize skill development, teamwork, and, most importantly, having fun. We foster an environment where players are encouraged to improve, build confidence, and develop a love for the game. Whether practicing individual skills or working together as a team, every aspect of our programming is designed to help players thrive.
- GBMHA has a Director of Player Development who will work closely with teams and coaches to create additional development opportunities both on and off the ice. The Director is committed to enhancing player growth by providing tailored support that helps athletes refine their skills, improve their hockey IQ, and develop holistically as individuals and players.
Competitive Play
- Our "MD", "A" and "B" teams will compete in competitive leagues such as the York Simcoe Minor Hockey League (YSMHL) - North Division and the Region 5 Hockey League (R5HL). These leagues provide an exciting and challenging environment where players can test their skills against the best teams in their age group, developing both their game and character along the way.
- "A" teams have the option to play "AA" in league play to ensure appropriate calibre competition, providing the best developmental environment for players.
Eligibility for OMHA & OHF Championships
- All "A" and "B" teams will be eligible to compete for the prestigious Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) Championships.
- U13, U15, and U18 "A" teams are eligible to compete for the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) Championships, representing the highest level of competition for these age groups (April 17-19).
Additional Player Development
- All "MD", "A", and "B" teams will receive 1 hour of off-ice circuit training in a traditional gymnasium (U9-U13) or high intensity, functional training at a gym (U14-U18).
- All "MD", "A" and "B" teams will receive 1 hour of on-ice skating and skill development every second week run by experienced skills/skating coaches.
- All goalies will receive tailored coaching from our goaltender development coaches including 1 hour of on-ice goal technique work every week.
Season Dates (Estimate Based on Previous Seasons)
| Age Group/Level |
Player Selections |
Prep Phase |
Regular Season |
Playoffs |
OMHA Dates |
| U9 "MD" |
May 9 - May 15 |
Sept 2-Sept 30 |
TBD |
N/A |
N/A |
| U10 "A" - U16 "A" |
May 3 - May 9 |
Aug 25-Sept 30 |
Oct 1-Feb 15 |
Feb 16 - Mar 22 |
Mar 27-29, Apr 3-5 |
| U18 "A" |
Sept 7 - Sept 13 |
Sept 14-Oct 7 |
Oct 8-Feb 15 |
Feb 16 - Mar 22 |
Mar 27-29, Apr 3-5 |
| U11 "B" - U15 "B" |
May 10 - May 16 |
Aug 25-Sept 30 |
Oct 1-Jan 28 |
Jan 29 - Mar 22 |
Mar 27-29, Apr 3-5, Apr 10-12 |
| U18 "B" |
Sept 14 - Sept 20 |
Sept 20-Oct 7 |
Oct 8-Jan 28 |
Jan 29 - Mar 22 |
Mar 27-29, Apr 3-5, Apr 10-12 |
Practice Details
| Age Group/Level |
Practices per Week |
Length of Practices |
Location(s) |
Breakdown |
| U9 "MD" |
2 |
60 minutes |
PMCC/NSSRC |
Weekdays - 1 morning/1 evening |
| U10 "A" - U18 "A" |
2 |
80 minutes |
PMCC/NSSRC |
Weekdays - 1 morning/1 evening |
| U11 "B" - U18 "B" |
2 |
70 minutes |
PMCC/NSSRC |
Weekdays - 1 morning/1 evening |
Game Details
| Age Group/Level |
Regular Season |
Playoff Games |
Game Duration |
League |
| U9 "MD" |
TBD |
TBD |
10-10-15 minutes |
YSMHL (North Division) |
| U10 "A" & U11 "A" |
26 games |
6-8 Qualifiers + Semi/Final or President's Cup + OMHAs |
10-10-15 minutes |
YSMHL (North Division) |
| U12 "A" & U13 "A" |
26 games |
6-8 Qualifiers + Semi/Final or President's Cup + OMHAs
|
10-15-15 minutes |
YSMHL (North Division) |
| U14 "A" & U15 "A" |
26 games |
6-8 Qualifiers + Semi/Final or President's Cup + OMHAs
|
15-15-FL-15 minutes |
YSMHL (North Division) |
| U16 "A" & U18 "A" |
26 games |
6-8 Qualifiers + Semi/Final or President's Cup + OMHAs
|
15-15-FL-20 minutes |
YSMHL (North Division) |
| U11 "B" |
20 games |
6 Round Robin + Semi/Final + OMHAs |
10-10-15 minutes |
R5HL |
| U13 "B" |
20 games |
6 Round Robin + Semi/Final + OMHAs |
10-15-15 minutes |
R5HL |
| U15 "B" & U18 "B" |
20 games |
6 Round Robin + Semi/Final + OMHAs
|
15-15-FL-15 minutes |
R5HL |
Extra Goalie Development - On-Ice (Proposed - Subject to Change)
| Age Group/Level |
Sessions Per Week |
Length of Session |
Location(s) |
Details |
| Goalies - Younger |
1 |
50 minutes |
NSSRC |
Additional Training for Goalies led by Qualified Goalie Instructors / Sessions split by age |
| Goalies - Older |
1 |
50 minutes |
NSSRC |
* - Goalie development provided by association; Additional player development not included in Registration Fees; Costs covered by team fees/fundraising
Extra Player Development - On-Ice*
| Age Group/Level |
Sessions Per Week |
Length of Session |
Location(s) |
Details |
| All Age Groups |
0.5 |
60 minutes |
PMCC/NSSRC |
Additional Training for Teams led by Qualified Skating & Skills Instructors / Sessions split by teams / 2 teams per Session |
* - Not included in Registration Fees; Costs covered by team fees/fundraising
Extra Player Development - Off-Ice*
| Age Group/Level |
Sessions Per Week |
Length of Session |
Location(s) |
Details |
| U9 - U13 |
1 |
60 minutes |
YMCA Midland |
YMCA Instructor led circuit training style workout |
| U14 - U18 |
1 |
60 minutes |
Driven |
Driven Instructor led CrossFit style workout |
* - Not included in Registration Fees; Costs covered by team fees/fundraising
Association Fees (Proposed - Subject to Change)
Association fees are determined based on age group and team classification, covering essential costs, including:
-
Ice rental fees for practices and games
-
Referee and timekeeper costs
-
Insurance and assessments (Hockey Canada, OHF, OMHA)
-
League registration fees for teams
-
Paid positions in the association
-
Banquet and awards
-
Subsidized player and coach development
-
Overhead, mileage, and other miscellaneous expenses
Understanding How Association Fees Have Changed From Last Season:
-
Age-Based Registration Fees:
As players move up in age divisions, registration fees increase to reflect longer game times and the need for more on-ice officials. This results in a higher share of ice time and officiating costs per player.
-
Team Fundraising Allocation:
All team fundraising proceeds will go directly back to each team to cover team-specific fees, not to the association.
-
This has always been the practice in PMHA, but is a new process for MMHA members.
-
The goal is to allow teams to significantly reduce or eliminate team fees through active fundraising and to reward fundraising efforts more directly.
-
As a result, registration fees may appear higher, but families gain more control over team-related costs.
-
Included with Registration:
Every player will receive 2 pairs of game socks and helmet stickers. These items are included as part of the registration fee.
-
Increased Game Commitments for "A" Teams:
"A" teams will play a greater number of games than in Rep teams in previous years, which leads to higher costs related to ice time and officials. In some cases, game duration has also increased.
-
More Practice Time for Both "A" and "B" Teams:
Both "A" and "B" level teams will receive increased practice ice time, contributing to a rise in practice-related expenses across the board.
-
Increased Costs:
Hockey Canada insurance fees and officiating costs have seen significant increases this year, and ice time expenses continue to rise annually.
| Age Group/Level |
Registration |
| U9 "MD" |
Est. $1100 |
| U10 "A" & U11 "A" |
$1200 |
| U12 "A" & U13 "A" |
$1250 |
| U14 "A" & U15 "A" |
$1300 |
| U16 "A" & U18 "A" |
$1350 |
| U11 "B" & U13 "B" |
$1125 |
| U15 "B" & U18 "B" |
$1175 |
We continue to wait on Hockey Canada for adjustments to the modified ice portion of the U9 programming. Therefore, we are unable to release a registration fee at this time.
Uniform Fees
Starting this season, the association will be implementing a new jersey and uniform policy. In an effort to provide better value to our families and ensure greater care of uniforms, the association will no longer be purchasing team jerseys.
Historically, jerseys have represented a significant expense for the association, and we've often faced challenges with them being lost, misplaced, or not properly cared for. Jersey deposits have also proven to be burdensome and inefficient. Moving forward, each player will be responsible for purchasing their own jersey.
We’re proud to offer high-quality Athletic Knit jerseys featuring:
-
Twill & embroidered front crest
-
Two-tone twill numbers on the back and sleeves
-
High-quality twill name bars, sewn directly onto the jersey
These are high quality jerseys that with proper care will last many years. All decorations are stitched on, ensuring durability throughout the season, while still allowing for easy removal or replacement of name bars and numbers if the jersey is handed down, sold, or repurposed.
While this year will require everyone to purchase a new jersey, we anticipate the development of a strong reuse and resale market in future seasons—creating long-term savings and flexibility for families.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we make this transition to a more sustainable and family-friendly approach.
| Age Group/Level |
Jersey |
Name Bars |
Socks |
Helmet Stickers |
Additional Items |
| All "A", "B" and "MD" teams |
$105 per jersey
(2 jerseys required - home/away)
|
$20 per bar
(2 bars required - home/away) |
Incl. in Reg. Fees
(2 pairs game socks - home/away)
|
Incl. in Reg. Fees
(logo, sponsor, number) |
Each team may make additional uniform, equipment and apparel mandatory or recommended.
This decision is left to the team as described in the Team Fees section below. |
Note: Jersey, name bars and additional item costs do not include applicable taxes.
Team Fees
Team fees are determined individually for each team. Preliminary budgets must be reviewed and approved by the Finance Committee before player evaluations. Final team budgets must be approved and signed by the parent group before the season begins.
Since these are budgets, they serve as estimates and may be subject to change.
The estimated team fee per player is calculated by subtracting projected fundraising revenue from estimated expenses and dividing the remainder by the number of players on the team.
Team expenses may include:
-
Tournament entry fees
-
Additional on-ice and off-ice player development
-
Video analysis platforms
-
Team supplies (e.g., water bottles, practice jerseys)
-
Special events and team gatherings
100% of the proceeds raised through association-wide, association-supported or team-specific fundraising efforts (not including tournaments and special events) goes directly toward offsetting team expenses. Teams that fundraise well can significantly reduce their out of pocket team fees.
See Team Details for more information on Team Fees specific to your age group and classification.